William Duff, 1st Earl Fife

William Duff, 1st Earl Fife (1697 – 30 September 1763), of Braco was a Scottish landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1727 to 1734.

Early life Duff was the eldest surviving son of William Duff, merchant, of Dipple and Braco, and his wife Jean Gordon, daughter of Sir George Gordon, Shire Commissioner in the Parliament of Scotland, of Edinglassie, Aberdeen.

Career

Duff was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Banffshire at the 1727 British general election. He spoke and voted against the Government on the Hessians in 1730 and also voted against the Administration on the repeal of the Septennial Act in 1734. At the 1734 British general election, he stood down in favour of his brother-in-law James Abercromby. Abercrombie was a government supporter, and as a reward, Duff was created Lord Braco of Kilbryde in the Peerage of Ireland on 28 July 1735. He continued to dominate the political scene at Banffshire.

After her death in 1720, he married Jean Grant (1705–1788), second daughter of Sir James Grant, 6th Baronet, of Pluscardine. in 1723. He inherited substantial estates from his father on his death in 1722. By his second wife Jean he had seven sons and seven daughters, including: Lady Anne Duff (1725–1805), who married Alexander Duff, 2nd of Hatton, son of Alexander Duff, 1st of Hatton, in 1745. Lady Margaret Duff (1745–1786), who married James Brodie, 21st Thane and Chief of Clan Brodie, son of James Brodie, in 1768.